In the dynamic landscape of social media, where innovation and competition abound, Meta's latest offering, Threads, has taken the digital world by storm. Positioned as a formidable contender to Twitter, Threads presents a unique take on social interaction, embracing multimedia microblogging and seamless integration with Instagram. As this intriguing platform continues to capture the attention of users worldwide, we embark on a journey to explore the history, mechanics, and current state of Threads, unveiling its impressive statistics along the way.
Threads has seen extraordinary sign-ups during its first week, surpassing ChatGPT to become the fastest app to reach 100 million sign-ups in just five days. According to The Verge, the app witnessed an astonishing 95 million posts and 190 million likes within its first 24 hours. Numerous Twitter alternatives have emerged since the takeover, but Threads poses the most significant long-term threat to Twitter's dominance.
Just two hours after its launch, Threads attracted a staggering two million users, and within a mere 24 hours, the online network witnessed a remarkable surge, with an astonishing 30 million people signing up.
Source: Statista
1. Threads was installed 30 million times on launch day
2. Threads made a historical impact as the most downloaded non-game app on its launch day in the past decade.
3. As of July 6, the app achieved an impressive milestone, amassing approximately 40 million downloads worldwide, as reported by Sensor Tower.
4. Posts on Threads have the flexibility to include up to 500 characters of text, a maximum of 10 images, or videos lasting up to 5 minutes.
5. Threads is expected to experience remarkable growth in the coming years, projecting it to attain nearly 200 million daily active users and achieve an impressive annual revenue of approximately $8 billion within the next two years.
6. Threads boasts an incredibly swift onboarding process, allowing users to get started in less than 10 seconds.
7. Threads achieved a meteoric rise, ascending to the coveted position of being the #1 app on Apple's App Store and rapidly becoming a top trending topic on Twitter.
8. Threads is launched in more than 100 countries and supports over 30 languages, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity for users on both iOS and Android platforms.
9. Threads collects user data across an impressive 25 different categories, enabling a comprehensive understanding of user preferences and behaviors in ways that were previously unmatched in the microblogging scene.
10. Threads is touted as a potential "Twitter killer" due to Meta's massive user base, with over 2 billion active Instagram users, significantly surpassing Twitter's estimated 250 million active users.
11. Threads ensures that users under 16 (or under 18 in specific countries) are automatically assigned a private profile upon joining the platform.
12. The launch of Threads had a significant impact on Meta's share price, leading to an impressive price of $294.37, reaching its highest point since the beginning of 2022.
13. Verified Instagram users will carry their coveted checkmarks to Threads, maintaining their verified status on the new microblogging platform.
14. As stated by the Wall Street Journal, Europe contributed approximately 22% of Meta's total advertising revenue, amounting to $28 billion, during the first quarter of 2023.
15. Threads adopts ActivityPub protocol for interoperability with platforms like Mastodon and WordPress.
16. Anticipated future support from other platforms like Tumblr for broader network opportunities.
Threads finds itself frequently compared to two major players in the social media arena: Twitter and Instagram. With aspirations to be a primary competitor against Twitter, Threads adopts a similar approach to microblogging, encouraging users to share short, impactful posts. However, it sets itself apart by offering a multimedia-rich experience, allowing users to incorporate images and videos into their content.
Here's a breakdown -
(Based on Free Account) | Threads | |
---|---|---|
Post Length | 500 Characters | 280 Characters |
Links | Yes | Yes |
Photos | Single & Carousel | Single & Block Cell |
Video | Yes (5 mins) | Yes (2 mins 20 seconds) |
Verification | Yes | No |
Post Deletion | Yes | Yes |
Post Editing | No | No |
Account Deletion | No (deactivation only) | Yes |
Direct Message | No | Yes |
Trending Topics | No | Yes |
Hashtags | No | Yes |
ActivityPub Integration | No (upcoming) | No |
Platform Access | Mobile Only | Mobile & Desktop |
Price | Free | Free & Subscription |
Ads | No | Yes |
Search | Accounts Only | Accounts Only |
In response to the launch of Threads, Elon Musk, the new owner of Twitter, has taken a confrontational stance, ridiculing the app and threatening legal action against Meta. Musk alleges that the social media giant employed its trade secrets and confidential information to develop Threads, but legal experts cast doubt on the viability of proving such claims.
Similar to other aspiring competitors, Threads bears a strong resemblance to Twitter, allowing posts up to 500 characters and supporting links, photos, and videos of up to 5 minutes. However, the app lacks a direct messaging feature and a desktop version, aspects that some users, particularly business organizations, rely on. Furthermore, Threads currently lacks hashtags and keyword search functions, which could limit its appeal to advertisers and hamper its utility for real-time event tracking—a popular feature on Twitter. Nevertheless, industry analysts suggest that the ongoing upheaval at Twitter, including the controversy surrounding imposed tweet-viewing limitations, may present an opportunity for Threads to attract users from those affected groups.
Presently, the Threads app remains ad-free, and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has stated that the company will consider monetization only once the platform reaches the ambitious milestone of 1 billion users.
As the competition between Threads and Twitter intensifies, the social media landscape is bound to witness further transformations, with implications for user experiences, content moderation, and the dynamics of public discourse online.
The genesis of Threads can be traced back to October 2019, but unfortunately discontinued in December 2021. During its existence, the platform resembled Snapchat, prioritizing private text and video interactions among its users. Meta (formerly known as Facebook) sought to diversify its social media portfolio, leveraging the growing popularity of visual content. Threads quickly emerged as a powerful tool to engage users through images, videos, and concise yet impactful posts. Its user-friendly interface and integration with Instagram garnered immediate interest, setting the stage for an unprecedented rise in popularity.
In November 2022, the development of the current version of Threads began, initially conceived as a feature integrated into Instagram. However, after further refinement, the app took on a distinct identity and was officially named Threads. On July 5, 2023, Threads was released as a standalone application, offering its users a unique and captivating experience. Zuckerberg says threads crossed 10 million signups in first seven hours as Musk rails against Instagram.
In the wake of Twitter's apparent decline in revenue and user base since the Elon Musk takeover, Meta, the parent company of Instagram, is seizing the opportunity to enter the microblogging arena with its latest offering, Threads. With Twitter's recent announcement of limiting daily tweet views as a temporary measure, Threads' launch comes at a strategically advantageous moment for Instagram. Functioning similarly to Twitter, Threads presents a mix of short posts from followed accounts and algorithmically selected ones, presented in a regularly updated feed. Meta, known for not shying away from emulating successful features, previously launched Instagram Stories, akin to Snapchat Stories, and Reels, a direct TikTok competitor, introducing algorithmic elements that are now prominent on Threads.
Unlike past instances where Instagram countered competitors, Threads seems to be attacking Twitter while it's vulnerable. Twitter has witnessed a drop in overall usage and advertisers leaving the platform since the Musk takeover, a weakness that Meta is keen to exploit. Threads is marketed as a safer and moderated microblogging experience, setting it apart from Musk's "free speech paradise" Twitter, which has scaled back moderator resources in recent months. This approach might attract advertisers, but the ultimate success will depend on whether Threads users stay engaged and active.
The exploration of Meta Threads Statistics 2023 has revealed compelling insights into the dynamics of online conversations and their impact on the digital world. Threads' explosive rise as a microblogging platform, surpassing download records and capturing the attention of millions globally, reflects its potential as a powerful contender in the social media landscape. The app's impact on brands and public perception has highlighted the significance of proactive monitoring and strategic engagement to shape positive brand sentiment and reputation. The statistics have shed light on the diverse user base, reflecting Threads' appeal across demographics and regions. Overall, the findings underline Threads' potential as a driving force in shaping the future of online conversations.